Name: Jonas, Só Mais Um
Genre: Short
Duration: 11 min
Cast: Caio Blat, Antonio Salvador de Souza, Jonas Eduardo Santos de Souza

Observations and reflections on a tragedy

"Jonas, Just Another One" combines documentary with a small portion of fiction as it discusses the tragic death of Jonas Eduardo Santos de Souza, a working black man killed by a bank security guard, in Rio, and how his death impacted and angered his family. They're the ones who share about who was Jonas, how they loved him, and they also talk a little about his death in front of several clients on the bank. Actor Caio Blat doesn't appear as himself, but rather as Caio, a neighbor who knew Jonas' father and he talks about violence, race and how once again the black community was hurt by a pointess violent act.

Jeferson De's film gives us time to reflect on topics that we're constantly bombarded on the news, day-in and day-out. It shows the sorrows of a family, the pride they had for their beloved one and also the anger they developed after knowing about the culprit's defense and how he literally got away with murder. It's not a case of reinforcing a story about race, it is about a reality that does happen time and again. It invites to think about society, possible changes that could be done in order to move to progress on social and business relations.

A little story about the crime for those who are about to watch, as the film doesn't tell: a discussion between Jonas and the bank guard happened after Jonas got stuck on the revolving doors, that embarassing act where one has to remove keys, cellphones or metal objects, and there's cases of people having to undress in front of everybody in order to not hear the beep/getting blocked. The guard claimed being attacked by the client and he reacted on self defense. Typical, then he got acquitted, charged again and you probably know what happened later on.

While the material doesn't have a way to attract audiences to it, the inclusion of the fictional interview with Caio Blat gave it a small sense of appeal (worked for me, and that's how I got acquainted with the film). They both worked together in the incredible "Bróder", and he's a great young actor who manages to disappear into whatever reality he's put to live on, rich or poor, hero or criminal. If you don't know Caio, it makes the experience even more interesting as you can honestly believe he hired Jonas' dad to work with him, or they both live on the same community.

Films like this serve a better and higher purpose than staying late afternoons watching local crime news. It offers a wider scope of things despite its limited time, and offers some valuable education as well (Mr. De made sure to include some Constitution articles that relates with the scenario presented), and the huge question mark at the end that appears later on goes back at us: is Jonas case just another one of many, or is there are a way for such case to be the last? 8/10.

Portuguese-language cinema, spanning Portugal, Brazil, and other Lusophone regions, focuses on history, cultural identity, and the struggles of ordinary people, often framed with poetic or allegorical storytelling. In Portugal, cinema has emphasized meditative pacing and philosophical depth, reflecting on memory and tradition. In Brazil, it has often been politically charged and socially vibrant, highlighting inequality and resilience while experimenting with popular and avant-garde forms.

Alexandre Rodrigues in City of God (2002)

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

A short documentary that analyses the death of Jonas Eduardo Santos de Souza, a mid-30's, hard-working black man who was killed by a security guard inside of a crowded bank in Rio de Janeiro. Is Jonas part of a sad statistic or there are ways for a change in society?

Jonas Eduardo Santos de Souza in Jonas, Só Mais Um (2008)

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Antonio Salvador de Souza in Jonas, Só Mais Um (2008)

Marizia Verônica Santos de Souza in Jonas, Só Mais Um (2008)

Josias Santos de Souza in Jonas, Só Mais Um (2008)

Jonas, Só Mais Um

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